The Dig Deportation Nation w/ Chris Newman
Feb 9, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Chris Newman, Legal Director of the National Day Laborers Organizing Network, tackles the far-right anti-migrant agenda under Trump. He highlights the bipartisan failures that have intensified immigration enforcement without real reform. The conversation dives into the historical roots of immigration policy, the importance of immigrant labor in recovery efforts, and critiques the Democratic Party’s shortcomings on immigration rights. Newman emphasizes the need for solidarity among marginalized communities to combat rising nativism.
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Endalon's Aid Hub
- Chris Newman discusses Endalon's aid hub in Pasadena, supporting immigrants affected by the Eden Fire.
- Day laborers, often immigrants, act as vital second responders after disasters, crucial for rebuilding efforts.
Deportation as Attrition
- Trump's mass deportation plan uses fear to force self-deportation, focusing on attrition, not physical removal.
- This "war of attrition" targets all non-white immigrants, regardless of legal status.
Crimmigration Infrastructure
- Trump exploits pre-existing infrastructure like Secure Communities, created under Obama, for deportations.
- This infrastructure, conflating immigration and criminality, laid the groundwork for Trumpism.
